Means for operating cocks, valves, and the like from a distance.



J. M. F. H. GIL.

MEANS FOR OPERATING COOKS, VALVES, AND THE LIKE FROM A DISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOI? Joseph Marie Francois Huber-f GI'I ATTORNEYS WITNESSES 1 J. M.F. H. GIL.

MEANS FOR OPERATING cooxs, VALVES, AND THE LIKE FROM A DISTANCE.APPLICATION PI'LED MAYBI, 1911.

1,074,428. Patented Sept. 30,1913.

- 3 SHEfilik-SHBET q" q HHHHI L WITNESSES I N VE N TOR J 0s e h MarieFran cols'Hu berffiil AT RNEYS J. M. F. H. eI'L. MEANS FOR OPERATINGCOOKS, VALVES, AND THE LIKE FROM A DISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

INVZNTO/P Joseph MarieFrancois Hu-berw 6H WITNEJSS E5 l STATES PATENTcurios.

JGSEP'H MARIE FBAKQtDIS HUBER?- GIL, 0F IPARIS, FRANCE.

means son. ornnarme cocxs, VALVES, ann- THE. LIKE FROM a DI$TANGE.

Specification Letters Patent. p t ted s t.30,191 3.

nrl ce cn and y a1. m e a m. sec

mission cocks, valves and so forth of all.

kinds and in particular valves fitted to conduits of large crosssection. This means comprises operating mechanism for the .valveactuated by a motor controlled from a distance by a hand starter whichstarts it and stops it automatically at the end of the travel foropening the valve by means of a mechanical circuit breaker and at theend of the closing movement by means of a maximum electrical circuitbreaker in combination with an automatic device indicating the openingand closing. The operation of the starter cannot in any case cause themotor to run in the opposite direction to the possible requireddirection of movement of the valve so that all cause-of injury to the motor or to the valve in case the said starting device should beincorrectly operated is effectively prevented.

A constructional form of the means forming the object of the presentinvention is illustrated in the'accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing the mountingoflthe motor upon the conduit and the operating mecha' is a section online 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing thearrangement of vthe operating mechanism; out View on an elliptical co k.Fig; 7 is a i of the switch board of the distant electrical controlstation. Fi Susie a diagrammatic view showing the e ectric'alconnections] of said switch board.

The operating mechanism for the Valve].

comprises a cast metal irame a the form and dimensions of which areadapted to the type of valve that it is to control. A motor I) issecured to the frame, its power being ade quate for producingtheoperation; by the intermediary ot. a resilient clutch 0 its armaturerotates an endless'screw d in mesh with a wornr wheel'e carrying uponits hub a claw clutch f with which the corresponding claws of a sleeve 5are engaged; this sleeve is able to. slide: upon the 'hub of the wheel 6and in the bearing g. This sleeve f comprises a fixed key f for drivingthe shaft h which, covers the operating screw (not shown) and transmitsthe movement of the motor I) to this screw. The motor which isreversible is able to rotate in both directions and thus open and closethe Valve.

The claw clutch of the Wheel 6 and that of the sleeve are maintained inengagement by a spring a which bears on the one hand upon the hub of thewheel e and on the other hand upon the shoulder f upon the sleeve f.

' ables the hand wheel to be held in place and it is therefore readilypossible to operate the valve by hand without regard to the automaticcontrol which is thus automatically disengaged by the introduction ofthe hand wheel while on the other hand the removal of the latter insuresthe rengagement of the distance control device.

It is obvious that the frame and its movement may vary in accordancewith the type of valve and, its position; thus in Fig. 6 a modifiedmeans for controlling a vertical elliptical valve has been represented.It 1s also possible by means of a pinion keyed u on the; shaft [1, toactuate a rack or any other device. \A tell-tale device is combined withthis mechanism for operating the valve for indicating automatically atthe central station whether the valve in question is open or closed.This means consists of a frame 70 in which a screw 1 is journaled; thisscrew is controlled either by a finger Z2. rigid with the shaft handacti'ng' upon a star Wheel Z 110 carries a blade m suitably insulatedupon' an ebonite fork fixed to .the said mover, the

said blade sliding in continuous contact witha rod m arranged parallellywith the screw Z the rod being insulated upon the frame and carrying aterminal m connected with a source of electrical energy.- Upon therespective supports of the two ends of the screw Z contact'blades n nare arranged; the nose of the blades m on the mover comesinto contactwith one of these contact blades at the end ofthe closing or openingstroke of the valve, thus closing the circuit upon the line of one ofthe lamps R B one of which may be red and indicate the closed positionand the other white for indicating the open position or "'any othermethod of indication by means oifflvanes, drop indicators or otherdevices controlled electrically by means of electro-magnets or by theclosing of the circuit may be employed.

Upon an larm m on the mover m a finger p is fixed and'in its path adouble counterweighted arm 9 g" is arranged; this arm is mounted at.-theend of a spindle g journaled at its extremities in a frame 7" andcarrying an ebonite col-e4 provided at its periphery with a brasscircleg with tongue Q6. By means of terminal r and a rubber r the circle 9 ispermanently in communication with the terminals of the driving motor.The tongue gfin the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4: by theintermediary of a terminal r and of a rubber 1' places the circle g incommunication with the leading-out terminal of the starting rheostatcontrolling the motor. A plate 9 is fixed to the other end of thespindle 9 this plate carries two stops which alternately bear against aboss cast on the frame 1- and limit the oscillations of the double arm 9g in such a manner that one member of the double arm is always presentedperpendicularly to the line of movement of the finger p. It follows fromthis break device that when the moverm approaches the end of the openingstroke for the valve its finger p encounters the arm g of the doublecounter-weighted arm and displaces it. At the moment when the mover mreaches the end of the opening stroke for the valve the counterweightpasses beyond the vertical and rocks suddenly interrupting the circuit.Each valve so controlled should comprise at the distant central stationan the direction of the movement for obtaining opening and closingrespectively. The starter is combined with a minimum automatic releasingdevice, that is to say a device such that when it is arranged in runningorder if for any reason the current on the line should be interruptedthe starting lever is instantaneously and automatically brought onto theneutral contact. Starting can only be effected by again operating thestarter. The automatic unclutching-device operates in both directions ofrunning. The starting lever D can occupy but three positions, in whichit is held automatically, the neutral position corresponding to thestopping of the motor, the position 0 for starting the motor for openingthe valve or cook and the position F for starting the motor for closingthe valve or cock. The starting lever D is held in the positions 0 or F,for closing or opening the valve, by two electro-magnets D D see Fig. 8,which are energized during the whole displacement of the valve. Theminimum automatic ,releasing device consists of a double lever D towhich the starting lever D is connected, two balancedelectro-magnet Dwhich is energize during the whole time the valve is in motion. In thispositionthe' springs D tend to recall the. starting lever to neutralposition, as shown in Fig. 8. When the mover m rocks the ebonite coresupporting the circle 4 the.

tongue 9 escapes from the rubber of the terminal r and breaks thecircuit on the corresponding electro-magnet d permitting thesprings D toreturn the starting lever to neutral posit-ion.

The switch board is completed by an ampere meter A indicating theintensity of the current absorbed by the operation. Two fuses C C arearranged upon the two operating lines of the motor. An automatic maximumcircuit breaker M is arranged upon the line corresponding to the closingmovement of the valve. A volt meter V indicatingthe strength of thecurrent.

If a number of valve controls should be arranged upon one and the sameswitch board a single volt meter would be sufficient. A tell-tale deviceindicating the opening and closing operations at a distance can'also bearranged on the switch-board; this device might be composed as indicatedabove by two colored lamps, a red lam R indicating the closed'positionand a whlte lamp the open position. Behind the switchboard all theconnections and terminals leading to the motor are arranged as shown inFig. 8.

The automatic circuit breaker M which is arranged upon the linecontrolling the closing of the valve is a maximum, circuit orena-ebreaker that is to say, when the power absorbed by the motorreaches apredetermined limit which can be regulated at will the currentisinterrupted by the circuit breaker. The stopping of the motor at theend of the closing stroke is automatically assured from the moment thatthe power absorbed by the motor reaches the predetermined limit. At thatmoment the current which works only in the directibnof operation forclosing the valve, acts on an electro-magnet which rel'eases the circuitbreaker M, the latter breaking the circuit f the correspondinelectro-magnet D and the starting lever returns to the neutral position.If on the other hand the current is cut off from this line the el'ectromagnet maintaining the circ'uit breaker disengaged no longer acts sothat the engagement is reestablished automati cally under the influenceof the wei ht of the lever arm of the circuit breaker; he circuit isthen reestablished for starting.

Before proceeding to describe the operation of this apparatus it isdesirable first of all to consider the conditions that it should fulfil.For the opening of the valve the condition is very simple. Aconsiderable interf' i'dly, whereupon the circuit breaker M beval can beleft between the upper part ofthe val've and the stop defining the endof the i 1 At this moment the maximum clutch of the starter becomesoperative. also and brings the lever D of the starter into the verticalposition, thus preventing the motor 6 from movement. The current may beinterrupted automatically by any mechanical means whichis suficientlyprecise and which will limit the movement with an approximation of somemillimeters" and this maximum movement may always remain the same. Theautomatic circuit breaker at the end of the opening movement(represented in Figs. 3, 4c and- 5) may very well be utilized in thiscase. It would be possible to regulate its disengagement so that thevalve would not strike against the upper part of the cock which wouldentail serious disturbance of the valve or of the motor. The conditionis not the same as regards the closing, however. It is necessary toobtain sufficient power for insuring the binding of the valve; when oncethis power has been'obtained it is necessary to be able to obtain suddeninterruption of the current in order to avoid accidents. A mechanicalinterrupter like that described would not be sufliciently exact. It mayhappen that as a result of wear the valve descends slightly more thanwhen new so that it would be essential to modify the adjustment of theinterrupter as otherwise closing would not be insured. An obstacle ofsome kind might prevent the complete descent of the valve and in thiscase the fuses would blow out or the armature coils would be burned.Accordingly the maximum automatic circuit breaker which affords aguarantee against any incorrect operation is provided for cutting oifthe current at the end of the closing operation. This device presentsthe further advantage of providing a .the maximum automatic circuitbreaker.

Oh starting, on: the other hand, there is no limit' to this power. As amotor is able to; furnish a supplementary effort of 50% of this powerthe opening movement is always assured. This would not be the case withtwo mechanical interrupters which would permit of the same power in bothdirections of running.

The operation of these devices as a whole is as follows'z Assuming thevalve to be open and the controlling circuit of the motor interruptedthe automatic maximu-m circuit breaker M is disengaged. If the starter Dbe acted upon and caused to turn in the direction indicated by the arrowF for closing the valve the current passing through the automaticcircuit breaker reaches the terminals of themotor b, which latter thenrotates Einthe direction fdr closing the valve, and the screw beingdriven by the controlling 5 apparatus, closing of the valve takes place.i When the valve has become wedged the effort required for the thrustincreases rapcomes operative and cuts-off the current.

to the vertical position it interrupts all current upon the openingline. The automatic maximum circuit breaker recloses automatically owingto the fact that the electro-magnet is no longer influenced and theapparatus is ready to effect afresh operation. During this period theopening indicator actuated by the screw Z has been operated. At the openposition the mechanical interrupter occupied the position in which itbreaks the circuit but the finger p of the indicator acting upon thelever arm 9 has again placed the tongue q of the circle 9 incommunication with the terminal 1' thereby enabling the circuit to bereestablished. In continuing its travel the opening indicator has closedthe circuit toward the terminal at and the red lamp R indicating thatthe valve is closed being switched in is energized. If it be desired toopen the valve it is only necessary to turn the handle of the starter Din the direction for opening indicated by the arrow 0; as previouslystated the mechanical interrupter enables the current to pass over thiscircuit to the motor which is started and the valve opens; when thefinger p of the opening indicator reaches the end of its travel itencounters the lever arm g which it displaces, the counterweight reeks,the

ing operation only is therefore possible and the motor can only bere-operated for closing the valve so'that no accident arising from anincorrect operation need be feared. Similarly when once the valve isclosed it can only be operated in the direction for opening. If byoversight the current should be switched onto the closing circuittheautomatic maximum circuit breaker would au tomatically becomeoperativeandthe lever of the starter would return to the neutral contact.Duringthe opening movement the indicator is displaced, the circuit tothe terminal n is interrupted and when the valve reaches the end of itstravel the bircuit is closed upon the terminal 01. and the white lamp Bindicating that the valve is open be= comes energized. v

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. A device for operating valves, cocks,

and the like from a distance, by electrical transmission, comprising anelectric motor, operating mechanism for the valve actuated by the motor,a hand starter for starting the motor from a distance, the handstarterbeing adapted to be moved to a position to start the. motor to open thevalve, or to a position to start the motor to close-the valve,electrical means for holding the hand starter in either of saidpositions, means for automatically returning the said hand starter whenreleased to a posit-ion to break the circuit of the motor and stop thelatter, a mechanical current breaker for releasing the hand starter atthe end of the opening movement of the valve, means actuated by themovemen'; of the valve for controlling said current breaker and amaximum electric circuit breaker for releasing the hand starter at theend of the closing stroke of the valve.

2. In a device for operating valves, cocks and the like'from a distanceby electrical transmission, a reversible electric motor ar-' ranged upona conduit to which the valveto be operated is fitted, means forcontrolling the operation of the valve from the-motbr, the said meanscomprising a resilientclutch, an endless screw. andlla worm wheel, ahand starter forstarting'said motor from a dis:

tance to open or close the valve, a mechanical I circuit breaker forautomatically stopping said motor at the end of the opening movement ofthe valve, and a maximum electric the end of the closing stroke of thevalve.

3. In a device for operating valves, cocks and the like, from a distanceby electrical transmission and at the same time permit- .ting of directhand operation, an electric motor, a hand starter for starting the motorfrom a distance, a shaft controlling the operation of the valve, anoperating mechanism driven from the motor and including 1 an endlessscrew and a worm wheel, and a clutch sleeve 'for detachably coupling theshaftcontrolling the operation of the valve with said worm wheel.

4. In an -electrical device for operating valves, cocks and the likefrom a distance, an electricmotor, operating mechanism for the valveactuated by the motor, a hand starter for starting the motor from adistance to open or close the valve, a screw' controlled by theoperation of the valve, a

mover moving upon said screw, a finger rlgldly connected with saidmover, a counterweighted lever adapted to be suddently rocked by saidfinger at the end of the opening stroke of the valve, an ebonite corewith which said lever is connected, a circle circuit breaker forstopping said motor at of conducting materialson said core, a rubberpermanently connecting said circle with the terminals of the motor, thesaid circle having a tongue, and a rubberconnecting said tongue onlywhen thevalve is closed, with the leading-out terminal of the startingrheostat controlling the motor.

5. In a device for operating valves, cocks and the like at a distance bymeans of electric motor, a starting lever for starting said motor from adistance, the said lever being adapted to be moved from a neutralposition corresponding to the stopping of the motor to a position tostart the motor to open the valve or to a position to start the motor toclose the valve, a screw operated during the'movement of the valve, amover displaced by said screw, an interrupter actu ated by said mover atthe end of the opening I ing the closing of the. valve without accidentto the valve orfto theinotor, and mean's'fo'r moving the hand starter,when the current. is interrupted, to a position to break thecir f cuitof the motorand stop the latter.

7. In" an I elect "'c device for operating electric motor, operatingmechanism for the' valve actuated by the motor, ahand starter forstarting the motor from a distance to open or close the valve, amechanical circuit breaker for automatically stopping the motor at theend of the'opening movement of the valve, a. maximum electric 'circuitbreaker for automatically stopping the motor'at the end of the closingmovement of the valve, and indicators for indicating the opening and theclosing of the valve and controlled by the movement of the mechanicalcircuit breaker.

8. In an electrical device for operating valves, cocks, and the likefrom a distance, an electric motor, operating mechanism for the valveactuated by the motor, a hand starter for starting the motor from adistance to open or close'the valve, a mover operated by the movement ofthe valve for interrupting the circuit to stop the motor at the end ofthe opening movement of the valve, indicators for indicating the openingand the closing of the valve, andelectric circuits for said indicators,the said mover at the end of the opening or closing movement, closingthe circuit for the corresponding indicator.

9. A device for operating valves, cocks and the like at a distance bymeans of an electric motor, comprising a starting lever for startingsaid motor from a distance, the said lever being adapted to be movedfrom a neutral position to directly close the circuit on the armaturesof the motor to a positionto start the motor to open the valve, or to aposition to directly close the circuit to start the motor to .close thevalve, an electro-magnet for holding the starting lever in position foropening the valve, a secondelectro-magnet for holding the starting leverin position for closing the valve, means for automatically returning thestarting lever to the neutral position corresponding to the stopping ofthe motor, each time the valve reaches the end of the opening orclo'sing movement, or is stopped at any point in its closing stroke, andmeans for indicating at a distance the open or closed position of thevalve.

10. A device for operating valves, cocks and the like at a distance bymeans of an electric motor, comprising a starting lever for startingsaid motor from a distance, the said lever being adapted to be movedfrom a neutral position to a position to start the motor to open thevalve, or to a position to start the motor to close the valve,electromagnets for holding the starting leverin the position to open orto close the valve, a mechanical interrupter'for interrupting thecurrent ,in the circuit of one of said electromagnets at the end of theopening movement of the valve, a maximum circuit breaker forinterrupting the current in the circuit of the other electro-magnet atthe end of the closing movement or in case the valve should stop incourse of closing, and means for automatically returning the startinglever to the neutral position corresponding to the stopping of the motoron the interruption of the current. I

11. In a devict for operating valves, cocks and the like from adistance, by electrical transmission, an electric motor, operatingmechanism for the valve actuated by the motor, a hand starter forstarting the motor from a distance to'open or close the valve, the saidhand starter being adapted to be moved from a neutral positioncorresponding to the stopping of the motor to a position to start themotor to open the valve, or to a position to start the motor to closethe valve, an electro-magnet for holding the hand starter in position tostart the motor to open the valve, a screw controlled by the operationof the valve, a mechanical cir-. cuit breaker controlled by said screwfor breaking the circuit of said electro-magnet at the end of theopening movement of the valve to release the hand starter, and means forreturning the hand starter to neutral position to break the circuit andstop the motor. 1

1 2. In an electrical device for operating valves, cocks and the likefrom a distance, an electric motor, operating mechanism for the valveactuated by the motor, a hand starter for directly closing the circuitand starting the motor from a distance to open or close the valve,electro-magnets for holding the hand starter in the closing or theopening direction of the valve, circuits in, cluding saidelectro-magnets, and a maximum electric circuit breaker for insuring theclosing of the valve Without accident to the valve or to the motor, thesaid maximum electric circuit breaker being arranged only in the circuitof the electro-magnet holding the hand starter in position to close thevalve.

. 13. In a device for operating valves, cocks and the like from adistance by electrical transmission, an electric motor, operatingmechanism for the valve actuated by the motor, a hand starter forstarting the motor from a distance to open or close the valve;

the said hand starter being adapted to be moved from a neutral positioncorresponding to the stopping of the motor to a position to start themotor to open the valve or to a position to start the motor to close thevalve, an electro-magnet for holding the hand starter in position tostart the motor to close the valve, a maximum electr c C11- cuit breakerin the circuit of said electromagnet, for breaking-the circuit of saidelectro-magnet at the end of the closing stroke of the valve to releasethe hand starter, and

and the like from a distance by electrical ltransmission, comprising anelectric motor,

operating mechanism for thevalve actuated by the motor, a hand starterfor starting the motor from a distance to open or close the valve, thesaid hand starter being adapted to be moved from a. neutral ositi'oncorresponding to the. stopping o the motor, to a position to start themotor to open the valve or to a position to start the motor to close thevalve, two electro-magnets, one for holding the hand starter in positionto start the'motor to ope'n'the valve and the other for holding the handstarter in posi tion to start the motor to close the val've,

of the opening movement of the valve, a i

maximum electric circuit breaker in the circuit of the secondelectro-magnet for breaking the circuit of said magnet, and means forautomatically returning the hand starter to the neutral position, tobreak the circuit and stop the motor, on the interruption of the currentin either of said elect-ro-magnets.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. 4

. JOSEPH MARIE FRANQQIS HUBERT' GIL.

